ALTRINCHAM has won national recognition at the RHS Britain in Bloom competition.

Altrincham In Bloom put in a sparkling performance when it represented the North West at the national finals of the leading environmental event.

Competing against six others in the Large Towns category, the Altrincham voluntary group received a Silver Gilt award - which is above Silver and just below Gold

Three volunteers - Sarah Walmsley, Bev Robinson and Rita Williams - travelled to Llandudno for the awards ceremony on Saturday accompanied by the Mayor of Trafford, Cllr Jonathan Coupe, and Trafford Council’s head of environmental services, Tara Dumas.

National judges Kim Parish and Nigel Bishop said the team’s score was a “high silver gilt' and added that: “Gold is within your reach.”

The judges were impressed with the group’s enthusiasm and the firm foundations they have laid for the future.

They highlighted a number of projects, describing the Four Seasons Walkway as 'outstanding' and the Shaw’s Green ‘Food For Thought’ project 'exceptional'.

Sarah Walmsley, chairman of Altrincham In Bloom, said: “We were all delighted with the result, particularly as this was our first outing at the national finals and we are Trafford’s first Bloom group to reach this level.

"We are within a whisker of Gold and are determined to get there if nominated again on November 3.

"The road to Gold depends largely on the funding we can raise by February. However, other issues will be more logistically challenging like how to encourage building owners to remove their rooftop weeds.

"We are determined to keep up momentum and are calling on members of the public and the business community to actively support us.”

This week, Altrincham In Bloom launches a ‘Friends of Altrincham In Bloom’ scheme to raise £5 a year from public supporters. It is also selling £32 tickets for a Community Support Dinner at Altrincham’s Conservative Club restaurant on November 14.

Tickets and membership of the ‘Friends’ scheme can be obtained by emailing info@altrinchaminbloom.org.uk. A corporate sponsorship scheme will follow in November and the group’s new website www.altrinchaminbloom.org.uk built by ‘Made In Cheshire’ has just gone live.

Regional results of the ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ awards and ‘North West In Bloom’ competition will be announced this week in Southport (Nov 1-3).

Having worked closely with Trafford Council and One Trafford, ‘Friends’ groups and new ‘In Bloom’ groups across Trafford hope to reap the rewards of their hard work.